Welcome to Exile Star

Night fell.

The cyberpunk-style neon lights cast a mottled brilliance across the entire Exile Star. The night world was never short of revelers. After a day's hard work, the largest tavern on this planet was filled with music that awakened the hidden madness within. Substances similar to alcohol and exotic bodies constantly stimulated the desires of those participating.

A Star Hunter made his move. His last words were filled with a passionate enthusiasm for the hunt: "Tonight, let's hunt to our heart's content!"

Then, he set off, carrying the memory eraser Tang Chuan had given him.

As for Tang Chuan himself, he still chose this lively and grand tavern, opting to gather information here.

Below the Dancer's runway. Outside the bartender's counter. Inside the randomly paired booths.

His figure flitted everywhere. Thanks to his generosity, or rather, his extravagant display of wealth, he quickly ascended to the status of a high-level VIP customer at the "Prehistoric Beast" tavern.

Under the introduction of the tavern manager, he was led to a large booth, partially obscured by beaded curtains.

The booth was about thirty square meters, with half of its occupants being humanoid and the other half being other creatures with indescribable appearances.

Various contraband items were openly placed at his waist and on the booth's table.

The tavern manager introduced, "This is one of our highest-spec random booths, primarily serving as a social platform for our esteemed clients. Everyone, this is Mr. Tang Chuan. He's been promoted to Supreme VIP client on his first visit, and he's also an interstellar traveler. Please give me some face and don't make things difficult for him."

A humanoid creature with a pair of strange beast horns on its head, the patterns of which spread across half its face, waved its hand and said, "How could we make things difficult? Come, brother, sit next to me. Let's play 'Brahma Cards.' A thousand gold per round. Whoever wins treats everyone to an 'Illusion Emperor Cake' or a 'Dancer'."

The tavern manager said with a wry smile, "My esteemed Lord Moxiu, everyone knows your Brahma Cards skills. Just a few days ago, the last major casino on Exile Star added your name to their blacklist, and it even made the news. A thousand gold is enough to activate our tavern's entry-level VIP membership. Please don't scare Mr. Tang Chuan away."

The horned man called Moxiu waved his hand and said, "Stop dawdling and go. Do you think Brother Tang Chuan is an idiot? We don't eat people. Ah, no, only An Bo occasionally does. Here, everyone is harmonious. Don't worry, we won't cause trouble for your tavern."

Tang Chuan clicked his tongue and shook his head, letting the helpless tavern manager retreat.

He held a cigarette butt in his mouth, sat down next to Moxiu, and said, "Brahma Cards, how do you play?"

"Oh, really?"

A strange creature nearby pushed away the Dancer at its waist and sized up Tang Chuan. "Did you really not hear that just now, or are you pretending not to? You actually dare to play cards with Moxiu? Is your belt tied tight?"

Tang Chuan looked at the Brahma Cards in his hand, which were adorned with various drawings. He glanced at the creature out of the corner of his eye and said, "If it's tied tight, you can have your wife come and test it to find out."

Bang!

The strange creature slammed the table and stood up, drawing everyone's attention.

Tang Chuan was startled, and a Brahma Card in his hand fell onto the table, getting wet.

He shook the damp Brahma Card and said blankly, "What's wrong? You don't have a wife and want to try yourself? No, I can't do that."

The atmosphere became tense.

The music outside the booth and the subtle atmosphere inside created a stark contrast.

After a moment.

The strange creature suddenly burst into laughter.

Seeing this, the others also roared with laughter.

The strange creature stepped over the table and sat down next to Tang Chuan, placing a stack of colorful drinks in front of him.

"Hahaha, you're wrong, I have a wife, and not just one! How about this, I like you. Choose any number between one and eighteen. Whichever you choose, I'll have one of my eighteen wives test if your belt is tied tight tonight!"

Tang Chuan scratched his forehead and said helplessly, "Never mind, I don't think much of your taste. Let's just drink."

The strange creature said in a deep voice, "Alright! My name is An Bo. You're the first person I've met here who isn't afraid of me. You look quite edible, but you're interesting. If you win against Moxiu in cards today and win against me in drinking, we'll be good brothers!"

Tang Chuan hesitated, "And if I lose?"

An Bo chuckled, half-jokingly, "If you lose, you'll get drunk, get violated, get ripped off, get castrated, who knows?"

Tang Chuan ignored him and looked at the Brahma Cards in his hand. "How do you play this?"

Moxiu leaned in and patted Tang Chuan's shoulder. "Good brother, I'll teach you. No tuition, at least not until you learn, hehehe..."

After his explanation, Tang Chuan quickly grasped the rules of Brahma Cards.

Then, Moxiu, An Bo, and Tang Chuan himself began to play.

Moxiu played a card and confirmed, "You lose, you owe me ten thousand gold for this round. If you win, I only have to answer one question for you, right?"

Tang Chuan nodded and said, "That's right. But anyone who lies will have their tongue cut out. Haha, just kidding. In my hometown, we have great respect for tongues and don't cut them off casually. We just twist their heads off and use them as soccer balls."

As he spoke, he played a "King" card.

An Bo looked at his cards and clicked his tongue. "It's been a long time since I've seen an alien with so much guts. Do you even know what we do? Loose lips sink ships."

He then closed his cards and said, "Pass, I can't beat that."

It was Moxiu's turn again. He smiled and threw out three identical "Queen" cards. "This ends your round of playing. If you don't have three King cards, you lose your turn. So, do you have three King cards?"

The answer was obvious.

A deck of Brahma Cards only had three duplicate cards. Since Tang Chuan had played one, he naturally wouldn't have three Kings.

Tang Chuan laid down his cards and said, "Keep going."

Slap!

Moxiu threw the cards in his hand onto the table and said, "Twelve Titles, maximum Heavenly Luck, all gone. Pay up~"

"Wait a moment."

An Bo, standing nearby, cackled and tossed three cards onto the table, saying, "I have three 'Gambler' cards, which can exempt me from the gambling debt for this round."

Both of them put down their cards and looked at Tang Chuan with smiles, as Tang Chuan's face contorted as if he had constipation.

"Pay up."

Tang Chuan also placed his stack of cards on the table, looking surprised. "It looks like you've won, but aren't there only three repeating titles in a deck? You've already played three Queens. So where did the extra Queen in the full-title Heavenly Fortune in the second round come from, along with the Gamblers...?"

The atmosphere became awkward.

Moxiu stretched, revealing a forbidden weapon at his waist, and said brazenly, "Don't ask me where it came from. You shuffled the cards, and you dealt them. I had my sleeves rolled up the entire time. Since the cards were dealt incorrectly, I have reason to suspect you were trying to cheat, and I caught you. Or... was it me who cheated?

Anyway, if you didn't catch me red-handed, then losing is losing!

Alien, welcome to the warm and hospitable Exile Star!"